The Digital Lifeline: Telemedicine and Artificial Intelligence Synergy as a Catalyst for Healthcare Equity in Pakistan

Cureus. 2024 Feb 11;16(2):e54017. doi: 10.7759/cureus.54017. eCollection 2024 Feb.

Abstract

Telemedicine emerges as a critical innovation in Pakistan, aiming to overcome the nation's unique healthcare delivery challenges, including inadequate facilities, professional scarcity, and access disparities. Examining telemedicine's potential to bridge the healthcare gap, particularly in rural and underserved regions plagued by a digital divide and infrastructural deficits, is crucial. There is a critical need for robust digital infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and digital literacy to facilitate telemedicine adoption. By highlighting the socio-economic and logistical obstacles alongside proposed strategic interventions, the analysis suggests that telemedicine can significantly enhance healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and equity across Pakistan, offering a pragmatic solution to its pressing healthcare needs while also opening room for artificial intelligence in the landscape.

Keywords: artificial intelligence in telemedicine; health-care equity; healthcare accessibility; rural healthcare delivery; telemedicine.

Publication types

  • Editorial